Zach Brown-USA Today Sports
The Atlanta Falcons possess a stable of running backs that finished last in the NFL last season in rushing yards per game.
Steven Jackson played only 12 games last season and rushed the ball 15 or more times in only five of them. In his absence, Jacquizz Rodgers was unable to play a significant role and failed to log at least 100 carries for the third time in his career.
Now that the Falcons drafted Devonta Freeman, fantasy owners should steer away from Rodgers.
The former Oregon State Beaver has yet to average at least four yards a carry for a season in his career and has just four rushing scores. He has more receiving yards than rushing yards and the same amount of touchdowns.
Rodgers had a career-low 3.5 yards per carry in 2013 and did not have a rush of 20 or more yards. The fourth-year player also averaged just 22.1 yards per game.
Not only are his stats unimpressive, his new teammate Freeman showed quite a bit of promise during preseason. Rodgers did not receive as much work as the rookie and both men are fighting for the backup role.
That is the biggest issue for Rodgers who remained out of the starting lineup when Jackson was signed last season. Jackson has dealt with a minor injury during the preseason, but is probable for the opening matchup. If the 11-year veteran remains healthy, it is uncertain just how much work Rodgers will get on Sundays.
Moreover, there are plenty of other capable backs in the league for fantasy owners. Rodgers seems to have found a role on special teams and could be limited to just that if third on the depth chart.
